The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has lamented that many state governments are not complementing the efforts of the Federal government to address the current hardship.
This is contained in a Communiqué issued at the end of SSANIP’s 129th General Executive Council (GEC) in Abuja and signed by the National President, Comrade Adebanjo Ogunsipe, and the National Secretary, Comrade Nura Gaya.
The Communiqué stated that the Council noted the growing situation of food insecurity and general economic hardship in the land, occasioned by unchecked galloping inflation which has resulted in the daily rising cost of commodities. These issues are a fallout of the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the national currency.
It also highlighted that the Council equally noted the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing these challenges through the deployment of various interventionist policies such as wage awards and distribution of food material to the vulnerable.
However, SSANIP stated that these efforts were not only slow in implementation but are also grossly inadequate to meet the resultant mounting pressures on labor to react.
“In the same vein, the Council noted the poor complimentary role played by many State Governments in assuaging the pains of the people in their domain; while some were offering far less than the Federal workers were offered, many were not offering anything at all.
“It thus resolved to chide the Federal Government to be more proactive under the current circumstance. It also strongly advised the government at the state levels to justify the reported huge increase in allocation to them through responsive and commensurate palliative gestures to their subjects,” the Communiqué stated.
On insecurity, SSANIP observed that the pervading insecurity in the land remained largely unabated. It also noted that the consequential effects of this had been partly attributed to the current food scarcity in the country.
“The Council reiterated that there can never be any meaningful development in an atmosphere of insecurity. While commending the resilience and the combatant resolve of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in dealing squarely with this menace, it resolved to strongly appeal to the Federal Government to up their game and ensure that all unrepentant criminal elements are neutralized forthwith, so that all its economic policies are not unduly frustrated.
The Communiqué further stated that the Council identified with all recent decisions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). It also commended the recent public protest organized by the NLC and Civil Society Organizations.
“The Council equally commended the resolve of the NLC to call off the protest after the first day, in view of government efforts and proactive responses to its demands.
“It, however, charged all members to continue to have confidence in the NLC leadership as well as SSANIP representation in the body and refrain from comments or social media posts that would tend to disparage the integrity of the labor leaders as they strive to ensure better welfare for us all,” it noted.
The Council noted the growing complaints from branches on the draconian ‘pay as you earn’ tax regime on our members. The Council viewed this development as taking away with the left hand what was given with the right hand.
“It, therefore, resolved that the government at all levels should endeavor to critically look into this controversial tax regime with a view to appropriately reviewing the same in line with the current economic realities in the country,” the Communiqué stated.
- RELEASE OF THE NEW SCHEME AND CONDITION OF SERVICE DOCUMENT
On the release of the new scheme and condition of service document, SSANIP urged the Head of Service of the Federation to ensure that action is expedited on the release of the new Scheme of Service document for the use of Polytechnics in the country.
It opined that the release of this document, as originally reviewed, would go a long way in promoting the advancement of Polytechnic education in the country.
- CONSTITUTION OF GOVERNING COUNCILS IN POLYTECHNICS IN THE COUNTRY
On the constitution of governing councils in polytechnics, the Council expressed dismay at what it described as unprecedented disdain of the government for the same document it signed into law.
SSANIP reminded the Federal and State governments that it is a responsibility bestowed on them to ensure the constitution of Governing Councils in all Polytechnics in the country.
The Council also expressed displeasure at the Government’s continued indifference to the issue of the implementation of the approved tertiary institutions’ salary review, even when the cost implications had been captured in the 2023 budget.
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It, therefore, charged relevant authorities to ensure the implementation without further delay to avoid a possible industrial dispute.
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